Ornamental link structure



` ORNAMENTAL LINK s'rmlcwums Filed Aug. 25. 1928 H75 5&6.

Patented June 25, 1929.

UNITED STATES FRIEDRICH SPEIDEL, OF PFORZHEIM, GERMANY.

i ORNAMENTAL LINK STRUCTURE.

Application mea August 25', 192s. serial Nn. 301,967.-

The present invention has reference to improvements in the art ofbuilding up link,

straps, and the'like, and the articular objectof the invention is toprovi e a structure of Y this general character in which the individuallinks are interconnected 1n flexible relation by means of separateconnecting members V1n such manner that the latter are completelyvhidden from view.

My invention will best be understood when l described with reference tothe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a front elevation of ablank for forming an outer link member; Fig. 2 is an edge view thereof.Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views at a later stage of working the blank;Figs. 5 and 6 respectively show an intermediate or connecting member infront and edge views. Fig. 7 shows a boxshaped link, formed by doublingover a blank, and Fig. 8 is an edge view thereof. Fig. 9 shows twoblanks connected by a connecting member, and Fig. 1() is a section online 10-10 of Fig. 9, on an enlarged scale. Fig. 11 shows a portion ofthe finished flexible structure.

The individual links are formed from blanks punched out of sheetmaterial. As shown, by way of example, the one half 1l of each blank isprovided with straight edges, vand the other half 3 with ornamentaledges, whereby a sealy effect is produced in the finished product. I donot, however, restrict myself to the particular edge conformation shown,and obviously, may employ other edge forms on the one blank half forproducing other ornamental effects.

The blank half 1 is designed to form the inner wall, and the blank half3 the outer wall of the finished link.

In the next operative step the two narrow longitudinal portions 4 of theblank-half 1 between the offsets 2 are bent up at a right angle,

as is also the upper cross-edge 5 of part 3, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4.

The intermediate members or connectors 7 (Figs. 5 and 6) are elongatedmetal plates provided with a slot 6, which are preferably likewisepunched from sheet metal.

'are secured the snap links or other locking .member for closing thestructure to form a las will readily be understood, are completely Iplated material..

In the next step the blanks 1, 3 are folded over along weakened lines 8(Fig. 9) to form flat boxes (Figs. 7 and 8), the part 3 forming theouter face, the part 1 the inner Wall, the npbent edge 5 one shortcross-wall, andv the blank portion 9 between the weakened lines 8 theothershort cross-wall, as Vshown in Fig. l8, the upbend ledges 4 partlyforming the longitudinal side walls. The final step is the shuttingofthe link, which is done by soldering the part 5' to the Vcontactingedge of the part 1.' But before the link is shut, in fact, before itisformed by doubling over,`it must be connected at one or bothlongitudinal sides to the adjacent link or links. For this purpose twosuch link members are placed close to one another, as shown in Figs. 9and 10 and a slottedconnecting member 7 is inserted so' that therespective abutting ledges 4 of the boxes extend upwardly into andthrough the slot 6 of the connector. The latter is preferably ofsomewhat thicker stock than the link stock so as to snugly t thecrosssection of the boxes to prevent the latter from becoming deformedin normal use. The individual links are thus readily concatenated, as yit were, the ornamental face portions 10 closely but freely interfitting(Fig. 11). As the last step each link is then solder-shut along the edge5.

To the ends of the concatenation, finally,`

circlet, or other end members in' the case of watch fobs or the like.

The intermediate members or connectors 7,

hidden in any position of use of the finished link structure, and forthat reason they ma be made of cheap stock, whereas the links wi 1generally be of precious or semi-precious or If the ornamental face ofthe links presents wavy, sharply pointed or like ornamental edges, theselatter are effectively supported or backed by the ledges 4 andtheconnectors 7, so that they are not apt to become deformed under inwardlydirected pressure.

The outer faces of the link walls 3 may be engraved, enameled, `eweled,or otherwise adorned in any desir manner.

Having thus described my invention, I sides of the longitudinal centerthereof, and claim intermediate members disposed between the 10 A linkband structure comprising a pluralwalls of adjacent .link members, eachlink ity of link members each formed from an member having a slottherein receiving the 5 ,elongated strip of sheet metal doubled uponadjacent flanfres upon the adjoining edges of itself and comprisingfront and rear walls the link mem ers. connected at their ends, one ofsaid Walls being provided with locking flanges on opposite FRIEDRICHSPEIDEL.

